Speed-recording instrument.



No 872,186. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907' O. H. DLA MONTE.

SPEED RECORDING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21,1906.

3 SHEETS SHEET 1 No. 872,186 PATENTED NOV. 26. 1907.

0. H. DLA MONTE.

SPEED RECORDING INSTRUMENT.

APPLIGATION IILEID MAR. 21, 1906.

3SHEETSSHEE.T 2.

No. 872,186. PATENTE D NOV. 26, 1907.

G. H. DLA MONTE.

SPEED RECORDING INSTRUMENT- APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 21, 1906.

3SHEETS-SHEET 3v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASCIOUS H. D LA MONTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL SPEED REGISTER 00., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPEED-RECORDING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov". 26, 1907.

Application filed March 21. 1906. Serial No. 307235.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, (,ASCIOUS H. D LA hIONTE, a citizen, of Mexico, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Speed-Recording Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to speed-recording instruments for use in connection with horse-drawn vehicles, and also for any other purpose wherein it is found'applicable.

The invention further aims to provide a speedwcoording instrument in a manner as hereinafter set forth which is adapted to be attached to a support, for example, the axle of a vehicle, and having the distance-recording eiemenis thereof actuated by a rotating object, for example, a wheel of the vehicle; the distance-recording element registering upon a rotatable dial, the recording being preferabi in the nature of punch-marks, and the diai being connected to and rotated by a clock mechanism and spaced or divided into subdivisions forming time-indicating spaces to receive the punch-marka'so that the time consumed between the making of any two puncli marks can be readily ascertained; ail of which is very valuable as a detector to inc 'cate the. working time of a driver, and also to determine the number of miles the vehicle has traveled and the rates of speed at which .it has been drivenwhether fast or slow.

' struction, combination I of the invention. but

The invention further aims to provide a combined speed, distance and time recorder, as termed: a speed-recording instrument which shall be simple in its construction, strong, durable, non-vibratory to prevent the parts from o crating in an inaccurate manner and aiso' rom getting out of adjustment, efficient in its use, accurate in its recording, of sma compass, readily set up,

,and comparatively inexpensive "to manufacture.

YVith View, the invention consists of the novel conand arrangement of arts hereinafter ,more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanyin drawings which form a part of this speci cation and wherein is shown the referred embodiment it is to be understood the foregoing and other objects in l l l 1 l operating that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the SOX'OIfil views, and in which:

Figure 1 1s a top plan partly broken away of a speed-recording instrument in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan showing the clock train; Fig. 3 is a transverse section Fig. 4 is a disassembled Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the instrumerit 1I1 operative relation with respect to the wheel of a vehicle, and Fig. 9 is a view of the dial.

For the pur ose of illustration, so that the application 0 the invention can be understood, the speed-recording instrument is shown, by way of example, as attached to a vehicle; and referring to ,the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes a casing or housing which may be of any suitable shape, but as shown is cylindrical in contour; and

the said casing 1 is attached to a bracket 1 by a detachably-retaining arm 1*. The bracket 1 is provided with a supporting plate 1 against'which the casing 1 is placed and retainedthereon by the arm 1 The bracket 1 is clamped to the axle 2 of the vehicle'and the said casing 1 is arranged in suitable relation with respectto the wheel 3 carried by the said axle 2. adapted to house the dial-punching mechanism, the operating and shifting mechanisms therefor, the actuating means for said mechanism, the clock mechanism for rotating the dial, the and retaining means for the dial, a means to prevent vibration of or shock to the said operating, shifting and clock mechanisms and dial, a supporting The casing 1 is t 1.5 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and14, each of which is di- 25 hour indication 8, as at 22 the hour indicafraction of an hour, as shown.

66, divisions can stitute parts of the instrument. In addition I 'to the elements of the instrument just referred to, the instrument further comprises means operated from the rotation of the wheel 3 for operating said actuatingmech amsm. I g

The form of dial used in connection with the instrument is that as shown and described in application Serial No. 297,620, filed January 24, 1 906.. The dial l consists of a piece of suitable material having printed or otherwise placed thereon, a series of concentric'circles 2 3 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, forming a series of circularly arranged parallel spaces vided by-radially-extending.lines 15, 16, 17, .18, 19 and 20, into six'majorflivisions, each of said major divisions of each circular space being suitably designated to constitute a 20 certain hour of the day, such hour being ante or post meridian, as the case may be. The designation for .the major division of the circular space 9 are the hour indications 6, as

at"20 ;'the hourindication 7' as at-21; the

tion 9, as at 23; the hour indication 10, as at 24; and the hour indication 11, as at 25. The designations for the major divisions of the circular space 10 are the hour indication 12, as at 25 the hour indication 1, as at 26;

the hour indication 2, as at 27 the hour inrdication 3, as at 28 the hour indication 4, as

at29; and the hour indication5, as at 30.

The designations for the major divisions of the circular space 11 are the hour indication 6, as at 31; the hour indication 7, as at 32; the hour indication 8, as at 33; the hour indication 9, as at 34; thehour indication 10,-

? as at 35; and the hour indication 11, as at 36.

The designations for the major divisions of the circular space 12 are the hour indication 12, as at 37; the hour indication 1, as at 38; the hour indication 2, as at 39; the hour indication 3, as at 40; the hour indication4, as

at 41, and the hour indication 5, as at 42. The designations for the major divisions of the circular space 13 are the hour'indicatio'n 6;, as at 43; the hour indication 7, 'as at 44; the hour indication 8, as at 45; the hour indioation 9, as at 46 the hour indication 10,

' as at 47; and the hour indication 11, as at 48. The designation for the major divisions of the circular space 14 are the hour indication 12, as at 49;, the hour indication 1, as at 50; the

5'5 hourindieation 2, as at 53 the hour indication 3, as at 54; the hour indication 4, as at 55; did the hour indication 5,. as at 5.6.

. Each major-division of each circular space is divided by a series of radially-extending lines 57 into a series of subdivisions to indicate the These subdivisions are preferably twelve in number, so

I. s=l, 'that eachsubdivision is what may be termed I raifi.ve.minute space, or the number of subbe such as will be found in 'the main gear '64 of, the clock train.

practice to give sufficiently-accurate reading.

' The designations for indicating the. hour for each ma or (llVlSlOllare of such'style that antemeridian and postmeridian Wlll be indicated, and, by way ofexample, the designation for the major divisions to constitute antemeridian indication is printed in light type andthe designation for the major divisions to constitute pestmeridian indication is printed in heavy type. I Other means than that which is shown for indicating ante and postmeridian may be employed, for ex- .ample, by printing a tint or color over the postmeridian spaces, or to indicate in some manner a (liflerence'between the ante-meridian spaces and the postmeridian spaces;

- The, clock mechanism consists of a pair of movement pillar plates 58,-,59 connected together by the pillar 60, the plate 58 being of much less diameter than the plate 59 and is suitably spaced therefrom through the medium of the pillars '60. I Centrally of the plates 58, 59 and projecting from the plate 58, is the main staff 61 of the clock mechanism, said staff being rotatably connected to the plates 58, 59, and has secured to the lower end thereof, one end of the main clock or mothin-transmitting spring 62, said spring 62 surronndmg sa d stail and having its outer end li\ed to a post 63 which is secured to the plate 58, 59. To the staff 61 is fixed The latter beside the main gear "'64, comprises I auxiliary stai'l's65, 66, 67, 68, 69am] 70,-and upon the staff 65 is mounteda pinion 71 and a gear 72, the pinion 71 meshing with the main gear 6'4; upon the stafi 66 is mounted a pinion 73 and a gear 74, the pinion 73 meshingwith thegear '72; upon the staff 67 is mounted a pinion 75 and a gear 76, the pinion 75 meshingwith the gear 74; upon the staff 68 is mounted a pinion 77 and an escape wheel 78, the pinion 77 meshing with the gear 76; upon the staff 69 is mounted anescapement 79 and a lever 80; the eseapement 79 engages with the escape Wheel 78; upon the staff 70 is mounted a balance wheel 81 provided with a protuberance 82 with which engages the forked end of the lever 80,'and

surrounding the staff 7 O is a spring 83 having one end connected with said staff. 70 and its other end is attached to a lug 84 depending from the lower face of the plate The clock train as shown has the parts thereof set up in such relation with respect to each other and with respect to the staff 61, that the movement of the staff 61 is so regulated that it.makes a complete revolution every six hours. Although the clock mechanism is designed to cause a complete revolution-of the stafi 61 every six-hours, et it is evident that the mechanism can be esigncd so that the staff will make a'complete revolution at shorter or longer periods,1f desired. 7

The supporting and retaining means for the dial consists of a circular supporting1 member 85 fixed to the outer face of the plate 58 at the margin thereof, and the said supporting member 85 has its outer face pro-. vided with suitable indications to constitute hours and fractions of an hour. As shown, the indications upon the outer face of the supporting member 85 constitute twelve hours and the fractions thereof in five-minute spaces; but it is evident that such indications can be changed if desired. The combined supporting and retaining means for the dial further comprises a disk 86 having a boss 87 on the lower face of less diameter. The said disk 86 is provided with a screw-threaded opening 87 which extends through the boss 87, and the screw-threads of the wall of the opening 87 a are adapted to engage with the screw-threads 87" on the end of the staff 61 so that the said disk 86 will rotate with the staff 61. The said disk 86 is further provided on its upper face with a pin or stud 88 which is adapted to extend through the dial to prevent the dial from shifting when thh latter is in position to be punched and when revolved by the staff 61. A binding collar 88 for the disk 86 is also provided; said 001- lar 88 is screw-threaded, engages with the screw-threads 87 on the staff 61 and also abuts against the disk 86. The combined supporting and retaining means further comprises a clamping button 89 having its lower face formed with a groove 90 to receive the pin or stud 88. The groove 90 is continuous so that it is not necessary to position the button 89 when placing the button in its clamping position to receive the pin or stud 88. The button 89 is formed with an opening so as to surround the collar 88 and also to permit of the button being mounted upon. the dial so that the dial cannot shift of the pin or stud 88. To retain the button 89 in position, it is provided with a clamping spring 91 which projects outward from the inner face of the button and frictionally engages the collar 88, thereby securely retaining the button 89 in position, which, in connection with the pin or stud 88 secures the dial to the staff 61 so that the dial will rotate with the stafl 61, and complete a revolution every six hours.

The punching mechanism for the dial consists of a shiftable punch 92 having its outer end formed with a pivoted needle-point 93, so that the needle-point will form no obstacle to the movement of the dial and be prevented fiom tearing the dial as the said point will be caused to swing in the same direction with the direction of travel of the dial, consequently enabling the dial to move clear of the point; or in other words, owing to the pivoted end of the punch, the needle will be to swing clear of the dial during the 'aused ,movement of the latter. Said punch 1s shiftable towards and from the outer and inner concentric circles of the dial, the latter being positioned in the path of the needlepoint. The punch 92 is arranged in a casing 94, which is fixed to the plate 59 and arranged at the edge of the plate 58. The casing 94 projects above the plate 58 and carries a pair of combs 95, 96 between which the dial extends. One of said combs is spaced from the'other by a s )acing member 97 and the comb 96 is spaced rom the casing 94 by a spacing member 98. The comb 96 forms a support for the dial. The tines of the combs 95 and 96 constitute guides for and the spaces formed between the tines permit of the passage of the needle-point 93 when punching or perforating the dial and- .correspond to the circular s acesr9, 10, 11,

12, 13 and 14 of the dialf he casing 94 at its top is open so that the shifting move ment of the punch 92 to and from the dial will not be interfered with, and which also enables the shifting of the punch with respect to the circular spaces 9, 10, 11, 12, 13', and 14.

, In the form of dial used, it is necessary for the punch to be arranged in operative relation with respect to each of the circularspaces 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the dial which is divided into major divisions constituting hours. That is to say, after the dial makes a complete revolutionand has certain time-imlicating' spaces of one circular space punched, it is necessary that the punch be positioned so that the time-indicating s aces of an adjacent circular space of the dial will be suitably punched tocompletc the record. To properly position the punch for the purpose set forth a shifting mechamsm is provided; and said mechanism comprises a rotatable star wheel 99 and pinion 1.00, which are carried by a stud 101 suitably connected to the plate 58. The said pinion 100 is adapted to mesh with a toothed member 102 pressed against the said pinion 100 so as to be retained in mesh therewith at all times through the medium of a spring 103 carried by the plate 58. The toothed member 102 is actuated when the star-wheel 99 is shifted, and the means for shifting the star-wheel consists of an adjustable arm 104 surrounding the boss 87 and frictionally connected with the disk 86 by a frictional coupling member-103 carried on the staff 61 so as to rotate the said arm.104 with the staff 61, but the coupling 103 will permit of the said arm 104 being manually adjusted when occasion so requires. The arm at its inner end is formed with a depending lug 105 which, as the arm 104 rotates comes into engagement with one of the teeth of the star-wheel 99, thereby shifting the said star-wheel, conse entlymoving the member 102, the direction of movement of the member 102 being away from the staff 61. The toothed member 102 constitutes a comhined stop and releasing means for a shiftins plate 106 which is slidably mounted upon tie outer face of the plate 58 and is formed with a series of shoulders 107, with which the member 102 engages. The plate 106 is further provided with an L-shaped arm 108 having one of its-members extending into the casing 94- and engaging with the punch 92. said member of the 'L- shaped arm 108 1s formed with anop'ening for the purpose of surrounding the'punch' 92,

so that when the plate 106 is shifted in one direction or the other, the said member will engagethe punch 92 and be carried therewith. The shifting movement of the plate 106'in one direction is caused through the' medium of a pulling spring 109which is positioned at the inner side of the plate 58, and

, has one of its ends fixed to a lug 1 10 and the other of its ends fixed to a rod 111 which projects from the plate 106 and through a The memslot 112 formed in the plate 58.

- her 102 of such. length as to project'to each side 'of the staff 91, and owing to the action of the spring 103 is 'held normally in engagement with theplate 106, and the distance of correspond to the nu movement of the member 102 when shifted, is such as to move off one shoulder 107, allowing the action of the spring 109 to shift the plate 106 until the latter comes into engagement again with the member 102 which arrests the movement of the plate 106. The shoulders 107 are formed such distances apart that when the plate 1 06-is shifted through the action of' the spring 109, the distance that the plate 106- moves is such that the needle-point 93 of the punch will be positioned helow one of the spaces formeddent that when the cam-piece 114 during the travel of the wheel 113, engages the punch -92, the latter'will be shifted towards the dial and punch in one of the time-indicating spaces of-thexdial; and that afterthe lower "end'of the punch 92 passes'ofi' the cam-piece 114, the' punch will-move in the opposite direction'that' is: away from the dial.

'The' teeth of thewheel113 correspond in numberto the number of revolutions the wheel'of the vehicle, must take when travel ing a quarter of a'mile, andthe said toothed wheel .113 is operated lay a springpressed dog '115 carried bya spring-pressed'arm 116 fraction of a mile.

Therefore, it will be evi-' The arm 116 also wheel. The plate 59 is cut away to allow the operationlof the arm 116, and the manner' in which'the arm 116 is operated will be presently referred to. One or more campieces 114 can be'provided upon thejwheel 113 for operating the punch 92, so that the punch may be operated The means to prevent vibration orsho ck. to certain of the mechanisms of the instru-' ment so that there will be-no interference in the accurate recording of the instrument, consists of a plurality of z shaped springs 119 which are fixed at one'en'd to the plate I 59 and at the other end are provided with openings, 120 to permit of munting said. springs 119 upon the inwardly-extending lugs 121 carried on the inner face of the casing 1, the springs'119 consequently suspending within the casing .1 the plates 58, 59, as well as the elements carriedthereby and will take up and absorb'all shock from the vehi-' do so as not to cause any interference with the operation of the instrument. I The actuating means for the operating mechanisnr for the dial-punching mechanism consists of a reciprocatory, spring ,return.

through the opening 118, and when operatto record any desired plunger 122 which-is carried in a sleeve 123. v

The inner end of the plunger 122 operates ingthrough said opening" 118 engages the, roller 1'17 and moves the same forwardly in one direction, the arm 116 carrying the dog' therewith, the'latt'er engaging in the teeth of the wheel 113'and'rotating it. The movement in one direction of the plunger 122, that is to say, the movement of 'the plunger towards the arm 116so as to operate said arm iszcaused throughthe medium of acam' 125 carried by. the hub of the wheel 3,

the said cam 125 engaging a roller 126 carlied on the outer end of the plunger 122. The rQller ;-1;26 is arranged inthc, pathof the cam 125.. so1that during the rotation ofthe' wheel 3',: ,the cam 125 will intermittently strike ithe froller 126, forcing the plunger towardsthe arm 116, engaging the roller 11? andshiftingthe arm .116 in a manner as statedgifter the cam 125 fhasfpassed the rollerl26, the plunger will inovo'gl in an opposite'direction, that is to say,"; towards the path of the cam 125 through the action of'a spring .125fwhich is arranged n the sleeve .123.- The spring is sopositioned that on the movement of the plunger 122 towards the arm 116, the spring will be compressed and when the cam 125 passes out of engagement with the roller 126, the spring ,will be released, consequently returning the plunger 122 to its normal position in the path of the cam 125. 4

It has been found advantageous in some instances to provide a means forvarying the size of a punch-mark or perforation to indicate the separate miles traveled, that is to say, preferably each punch-mark represents a quarter of a mile; and when unching the last quarter of a mile, the sai puncture is to be enlarged so that one can see at a glance the number of miles traveled, without going to the trouble of a gregating the total number of quarter mi es, each of which being indicated by a puncture. In Fig. 6 of the drawings, a means is shown for punching for the last quarter of a mile in a manner so as to indicate that a mile has been traveled. Said means consists of a star-wheel 127 which projects below the plate 59 in i the path of the cam-piece 114. The star-wheel 127 is carried by the shaft 128 mounted at one end in' a bearing on the plate 59 and at its other end in the outer wall of the casing 94. The shaft 128 carries a toothed sleeve 130, one of the teeth of the sleeve 130 being of greater length than the remainin teeth. The toothed sleeve 130 is arrange below the punch 92, and the teeth of said sleeve 130 are ada ted to shift ,the punch 92 towards the dial; and owing to the manner in which the teeth of the sleeve 130 are constructed, it will be evident that the elongated tooth will convey to the punch 92 a longer stroke than any of the shorter teeth. Consequently this longer stroke will increase the size of theperforation in the dial so a distinction is had between the perforations I caused by the smaller teeth operating on the punch and the perforation caused by the longer tooth operating on the punch. The teeth of the sleeve 130 are arranged as shown so that a punch will be made in the dial every eighth of a mile, but the punch for the last eighth will be larger than the punch for the other eighths so that one can see at a glance when a mile has been traveled.

A suitable cover 131 is provided for the casing 1; and the said retaining arm 1 not only retains the casing upon the bracket 1", but also secures the cover 131 in position. The retaining arm 1 is locked in position so that the driver cannot gain access to the interior of the instrument;

'lhc dial when placed in position to receive the punch-marks is turned face down, but before being positioned, the arm 104 is adjusted so that it will shift the star-wheel at the proper time to adjust the' unch so that the punch will perforate the dial at the proper points. This is necessary owing to the fact that a vehicle may leave a starting 1 point at various times of the day and not at a special time.

When the vehicle is standing still,- the punch and its operating mechanism are not in .operation, but the time mechanism still continues to operate, moving the dial, but the period of inaction of the punching mechanism will be indicated by a lack of record on the dial so that one can readily see the period of time which the vehicle is standing still, said period of time being indicated b the spaces between the last punch-mar made before the vehicle came to a halt and the first punch-mark made after the ve hicle is started.

is as follows: It will be assumed that the dialis in position and that the vehicle begins its trip at six a. m., in the circular space 11, the clock mechanism being in operation will rotate the dial. As the vehicle travels,

or cam pieces, will be caused to come into contact with the punch of the punching mechanism and cause the punchi of the dial. The rotating of the vehicle w eel will throw into operation the plunger 122, the latter in turn 0 crating the arm 116 which will cause the 0g 115 to engage the teeth of the wheel 113 and impart movement to the wheel. As the clock mechanism is so constructed as to cause a complete revolution of the dial every six hours, it will be evident .that the punching of the dial will be had in the circular space 11 until the expiration of the eleventh hour, or rather, until the dial is rotated to bring the time- At this time, the shifting mechanismfor the unching mechanism will come into play and shift the punch so that it will be ositioned below the circular space 12. I vehicle should discontinue its travel, there is no cessation of the operation of the clock well as no cessation of operation of the shifting'mechanism for the punching mechanism; but when the vehicle discontinues its travel, the operation of the toothed wheel 113 is discontinued. At twelve 1n. the dial having completed its first revolution, as before stated, the punch is shifted to a position to operate upon the next circular space which is indicated by the reference character 12. This operation continues until the vehicle returns, whichmay be any hour desired- When the vehicleireturns, the dial is removed and a new one su bstituted.

The dial is placed upon the instrument at any time when the vehicle is still, for example: the dial is placed on the vehicle at any time between six and twelve p. -m. As the clock mechanism is operating, the dial will be revolved so that when the dial is revolved the'toothed wheel 113 with its cam piece indicating space 11.55 a. m. over the punch.

the

The general operation of the instrument a mechanism and the rotating of the dial, as

rality ,of cdmbs carried by the outer end of the casing and having the tines thereof .coiistituting guides for the punch, combined with means for operatin and for varying the duration of the operation of the punch.-

. 9. A speed recording instrument cmprising a punching mechanism, and means for shiftin it, said means comprising an automatica ly and intermittently operable plate engaging with sa d mechanism, an element for intermittently arresting the movement of said (plate, and a rotatable means for shiftingsai 1 the movement of the late.

element in one direction to permit of 10. A speed recor ng instrument for the purpose set forth embodying the combination with a punchi mechanism, of a shifting mechanism there or, comprising an auto- -matically slidable' plate connected to' said punchingmechanism for shifting it, a stop member engaging said plate for limiting the movement-thereof when shifting the punch-' ing-mechanism, and means for shifting said member.

P 11. 'A speed recording instrument for the, purpose-set forth embodying the combina-v tion wits a punching mechanism, of a shifting mechanism therefor comprising an autolmaticallys'lidable plate connected to said punching mechanism for shiftin it, a stop member engaging said plate for imi-ting the movement thereof when shifting the punchmechanism, and means for shifting said member,'co'mbined with a clock mechanism connected to said means for operating it.

12. A speed recording instrument for the purpose set forthembodying the combination with a punching mechanism, of a shifting mechanism therefor,-comprising an automatically slidable plate connected to the punching mechanism for shifting it, a stop member engaging said plate for limiting the movement thereof when shiftin the punching mechanisua, and a rotatab e means for sluftin said member.

tion witlra punching mechanism of a shifting sp'eed recording instrument for the I purpose set forth embodying the combina-' mechanism therefor, comprising an autonesses. 4 I

GASCIOUS H.- D LA MONTE. Witnesses:

E. A. HENKLE, WALTER 'H. JACKSON.

'55 mechanism for operating the said rotatable 

